guadagna



Feb. 7, 1956 Filed July 19, 1951 c. 'r. GUADAGNA 2,733,545

MECHANICAL DOLL HANDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 1956 c. T. GUADAGNA MECHANICAL DOLL HANDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1951 INVENTOR The present invention relates to mechanical doll hands United States Patent 'O and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein' described and claimed.

Generally there is provided a mechanical dolls hand whichis provided with a flexible thumb and flexible fingers each of which is connected at one end to a cord lever which is operable by pressing upon the inner por tion of the forearm of the doll, which pressure causes the fingers to curl inwardly in a very natural manner so that the same may be manipulated by the operator or and the cords are all connected at their other ends to a child playing with the doll whereby the fingers may be moved to pick up various objects, this providing a very amusing and instructive toy. i

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device of the character set forth which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and yet'eflfective and eflicient in use. a

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanically operated hand for dolls.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of novel finger constructions'forming parts of the invention; i

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational View, partly broken away, I:

of an embodiment of the invention showing a hand forming a part of the invention in opened condition. U

Figure 2 is a view similar toFigure 1 but showing the same in closed condition.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the device illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional" view of the device as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5--5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of finger construction whichthe invention may assume,

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of V of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing a still further modification of the invention, and

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown therein a mechanical doll hand generally indicated at 10 and which is attached to a hollow forearm 2,733,545 Patented Feb. 7, 1956 Each of the thumb and fingers '16 to 19, inclusive, is provided with opening and closing means for the same and which comprises, in each case, an elongated compression spring which is embedded upon its outer side in a strip of rubber 21.

A centrally disposed longitudinally extending opening 22 is formed in the body 13 and has communicating therewith a passageway 24 which, in turn, communicates with the interior of the thumb 15 and has also communicating therewith passageways 25, 26, 27 and 28 which communicate at their other ends with the interiors of the fingers 16 to 19, inclusive. t

A cord 29 is aflixed at one end to the outer end of the rubber strip 21 and extends thence through the opening 24 to the opening 22 and cords 30 to 33, inclusive, are likewise attached to the outer ends of the members 21 in the fingers 16 to 19, inclusive, and thence extend through passageways 25,to 28, inclusive, to the passageway 22 where all of the cords 29 to 33, inclusive, thence extend to a lever 34 which is pivotally connected to an car 35 mounted upon a plate 36 which is, in turn, attached to the lower portion of the inner wall of the forearm 11. The lever 34 is provided with an angular extension 37 which normally bears against the upper portion of the inner wall of the forearm 11.

In operation, it will be apparent that when the inner portion of the forearm is squeezed, as indicated in Figure 2, that the lever 34 will be moved downwardly, that is to say in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figures l and 2, thus pulling the cords 29 to 33, inclusive, outwardly of the thumb and fingers. This action causes a bending of the thumb and fingers to the positions indicated in Figure 3, for example, due to the fact that the rubber strip 21 acts to maintain one side of the spring 20 with its convolutions as originally spaced whereas the other-side of the spring may have its convolutions brought closer together. Thus the dolls arm may be manipulated by the user of the toy in such manner that i the thumb and fingers may be causedto grasp, pick up and release various objects in an amusing and constructive manner.

In Figures '6 and 7 there is shown another form the invention may assume wherein the fingers are each provided with a back 40 of comparatively hard rubber and a front wall 41 of comparatively'soft'rubber. A spring 42 extends through the interior of the finger and has that portion thereof adjacent the back 40 embedded therein,.as indicated at 43. .A cord 44 is fastenedto a solid tip 45 which is formed integrallywith the 'back 40, as indicated at 46.

The operation of this form of the invention is identical with that above described, the pulling of the cord 44 causing a bending of the finger to the'right as viewed in Figure 6.

In Figures 8 and 9, there is illustrated still another form the invention may assume wherein there is provided a finger having a back of hard rubber and provided with a tip portion 51 formed integrally therewith and there is also provided a front portion 52 of relatively soft sponge rubber which is-centrally provided with an opening 53 which is lined with a fabric 54 or the like.

A cord 55 is attached, as indicated at 56, to the tip 51 and operates in the manner above described. The liner 54 in the instant case, provides a means for the prevention of excessive friction with the cord 55.

While but three forms of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mechanical hand, an elastic and normally ex- 7 tended 'join'tless digit structure of similar cross-section therealong arrangedtor its impermanent fiexed"curving toward the palm of the hand and comprising an expanded helical springcore normally havingitsturns solely .con-

-nected'iby a body of relatively inelastic rubber along the back of the spring core to provide ra lesseridegreeof longitudinal'elasticity of thelfinger' thereauand a'flexible pullmember extending longitudiuallytthron'gh the digit from a terminal pointof attachment thereof. adjacent the digit tip in such :relation to the fdi'gitljthat its rearward longitudinal pulling is operativeto "eflect av curving of the digittoward thepalmof, the hand and its subsequent release permits arreturnrof the "digit'to'its. normally extendedposition solelyby reasonof the fdigit structure.

'2; In a dolls limb, aliollow arm'fhaving a resiliently yielding wall and terminating in' a hand; .anr'elastic. and

normally extended; digit structurecof'ithe handiformedgfor itsflexed,curvingtoward thepialmgof the handler cooperation'with the hand in an objectgrasping manner, a

iflexible member extendingrearwar'dly into the arm space through the'digit and handlfromra terminalpoint of attachment of the membergwithin thedigit 'its' longitudinal displacement to effect a curving of the digit towardgthe palm of the hand andits subsequent release to permit rep turn of the digit to its normally extended'condition, and a lever means provided within the arm space opposite said yielding wallfor actuation by the inwardly displaced wall and connected'to said member for actuating the latter by andupon a squeezingofthe arm at'the lever means crative to curve the digits toward the palm of'the hand solely during and by reason of a rearward pulling of the members, and alever means mounted Within'the arm space opposite said yielding wallfor actuation by the inwardly displaced Wall and connected v.to said pull members .for'itsv actuation to correspondingly operate said members by and upon squeezing of the arm to flex the corresponding digits toward the, palm ofithe hand.

4. In a dolls limb comprising a recessed armter'mimating in a hand, a resiliently flexible. and normally extended digit structure of the hand formed for its.im-

.permanentflexed curving towardv the palm of'the hand to cooperate with the other members of the hand, in a Jclosiug action. thereof, a flexible pull member. extendingrearwardly into the arm through the. digit and hand from a terminal point ofattachment thereof to and within thedigit inguided "relation-to the digit andhand for its longitudinal displacement to effect a curving of the digit toward the palm of the hand, and a lever means operative in the recess of the arm for actuating the pull member and having an actuator arm extending along an exterior wall of the recess, said exterior wall of the recess opposite the actuaton arm; of the lever being resiliently flexible and inwardly deflectableto. provide for an operative rocking of. the lever to flex the digit by an applicationv ofpressure againstits said, arm transversely through said Wall. 5

5. In an artificial hand, a normally extended unitary digit structure having.elongated an alfl c l y fl ible e ements of homogeneous elastic material all extending longitudinally of the digit for the full effective length of the digit with a back said element of said digit having the least. flexibility to facilitate an impermanent flexing of the, digit in a continuouscurve towardthepalm of the hand in a closing actionfor the hand, and aninelastic flexible pull member extending rearwardly and slidably through the digitfrom an interior forward point of attachment to' the digit and-coactive-with the digit elements to curve the digit toward the 'palrnof thehand-for its article-gripping cooperation with'thepalm and/ or other digits of the-hand solely during and-bymeason of a rearward pullingof the pull member with respect to-the digit.

6. A structure inaccordance With-claim 5 whereof the back said digit element comprises a body of elastic rubber or the likeianda forward said-digit element comprises an expanded'helical spring-havingrear-portions ofv its turns solely retained embedded in'the body of the back said digit element.

7. A structure in accordance with claim 5 whereof the back said digit element comprisesabody ofelastic material ofminor segmental cross-section-and a -forward said' digit' element comprises a body of'elastic material of major segmental-cross-section and more-gflexible than the first-body, said'bodies beingintegrally-joined at'their flat faces and the second body providing a longitudinal opening slidably receiving the pull member therethrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES: PATENTS 440,986 Alderson Nov. 18, 1890 1,049,345 Dolman Jan. 7, 1913 1,929,926 Laherty Oct. 10,1933 2,556,524 Drennon June-12, '1951 FOREIGN; PATENTS 104,075 Great'Britain *Feb'. 22, 1917 303,613 Germany Feb. 8, 1918 

